Essentials for the Children's Minstry Teacher

CHARACTERISTICS OF BABY LEARNING
We play a crucial role in a baby's learning by developing a loving and secure relationship
with them, encouraging them to use all their skills to explore the world around them and
by encouraging their curiosity. As a Biblical faith facilitator we can support a baby's lby:
playing together
talking and responding when the baby makes sounds or tells us in other ways what he or
she wants
meeting needs and having lots of loving contact
responding to the baby's movements and sounds
providing different objects and materials to explore using all the senses
getting to know the baby, noticing and responding to what he or she likes.
Now remember to always speak faith filled Words to the child because though a baby he
or she can respond to God's word being a spirit being. Always pronounce God's
blessing on the baby.
PLAY BASED LEARNING
Play, an important way for young children to learn, begins at birth. Playing together is
one of the best things a Biblical Faith Facilitator or teacher can do with a baby. Through
play, babies learn about themselves and their place in the world, develop and practise
social and language skills, expand their physical skills and think creatively.
Here are some suggestions for ways we can play with a baby:
sing songs (mostly worship and soft gentle songs)
have 'conversations' where you respond to sounds a baby makes by saying something
then waiting for the baby to make another sound
look at biblical picture books together
give the baby things to hold and play with (make sure they are safe for them to put in
their mouth, as that's one way babies explore objects).